Table leg and attaching means therefor



1955 5%. M. COURTWRIGHT 2,698,775

TABLE LEG AND ATTACHING MEANS THEREFOR Filed May 4, 1953 26 INVENTOR. 25; Y Robert M. Courtwrighi FIT'TOENEYJ United States Patent TABLE LEG ATTACHING MEANS THEREFOR Robert M. Courtwright, Tacoma, assignor to Furniture Arts, Inc., Tacoma,v Wash, a corporation of Washington Application May 4, 1953, Serial No. 352,902

4 Claims. (Cl. 311-114) constituting the table; in the modeof assembly and securement of parts together and in the particular overall design of the table that renders it attractive in appearance and especially desirable for school use.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table embodying the improvements of the present invention therein.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional detail of the table, taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

3 is a sectional detail, taken on the line 3-3 in 1g. a

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken through the table structure in a horizontal plane, substantially on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is anaxial sectional view of the leg mounting meansof the present invention as applied to a leg.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated a table constructed in accordance with the objects and embodying the various improvements of the present invention therein. The table, which is designated in its entirety in Fig. l by reference numeral 10, comprises a flat, rectangular top panel 11, which may be of wood or other suitable material, secured upon a rectangular, horizontal frame structure which is supported at its four corners by legs 12.

The horizontal frame structure comprises opposite end rails 13-13, preferably of wood and of substantial dimensions as best understood by reference to Fig. 4, and opposite side members which extend between and join the said end rails. Each of these side members, as well shown in Fig. 3, comprises a vertical plate 14 and a horizontal plate 15, both of wood. The vertical plates 14 at opposite sides of the frame, extend between the opposite end portions of the rails 13-13 and, at their ends, are mortised into the rails as shown at 18 in Fig. 4. The horizontal plates 15 also extend between and slightly beyond the opposite end rails and'underlap their under surfaces as has been sheown in Figs. 2 and 4. The bottom edge surfaces of the vertical plates 14 rest upon the top surfaces of the companion horizontal plates 15, along the inside or inner edge portions thereof, and the companion plates 14 and 15 are secured together at close intervals by screws 20 that are applied thereto as shown in Fig. 3.

The table top 11 may be secured to the top face of the horizontal frame structure by use by nails, screws or by a suitable adhesive applied between the parts along the top edges of the frame members 13 and 14.

The supporting legs 12 of the table structure are tubular, round in cross-section and preferably made of aluminum. Also, they may be slightly tapered in a downward direction. Each leg is fitted at its upper end with a metal cap that has a downwardly directed peripheral flange 25x fitted over the upper end portion of the leg. The leg, within that part covered by the cap flange, is formed with oppositely disposed, circumferentially directed and inwardly formed beads 26-26 as observed in Fig. 5. Each of these beads extends through an arc of 2,698,775 Patented Jan. 4, 1955 about thus leaving the ends of the opposite beads spaced apart.

Each cap 25 is formed, coaxially thereof, with an upwardly directed cylindrical boss or extension 25a of reduced diameter. The upper end wall of this boss is formed with a centrally located hole 30. An anchor disk 32 is fitted within the upper end of the leg with its peripheral edge portions engaged against the under sides of the two oppositely disposed beads 26-26. This disk is substantially. of the same diameter as the interior diameter of the tubular leg and as disposed therein against the beads 26-26 is downwardly concaved, and is formed centrally with a hole 33. An anchor bolt 34 extends upwardly through the hole 33 of the disk, and continues up through the hole 30 of the cap boss or extension 25a. A nut 35 is threaded onto the bolt and tightened downwardly against the upper end wall of the cap extension as shown in Fig. 5, thus the head 34x at the lower end of the bolt draws the anchor disk 32 upwardly and seats it firmly against the beads 26-26 as the nut 35 forces the cap 25 down over the end of the leg. Continued tightening of the nut 35 results in causing the anchor disk 32 to slightly expand the upper end portion of the tubular leg and cause it to be tightened within the cap flange 35x.

For mounting the legs on the table, the horizontal frame structure is formed at its under side at each of its four corners with downwardly opening sockets 40, as shown in Fig. 2. These sockets are bored upwardly through the ends of the plates 15 and into the cross-rails 13. They are of such diameter that they will snugly receive the extension portions 25a of the leg caps therein when the parts are assembled as observed in Fig. 2. Also, continuing upwardly from and coaxial of the sockets, are bores 42 of smaller diameter leading into upwardly opening sockets 43 that are formed in the top surfaces of the cross-rails 13, and within which sockets 43 flanged anchor nuts 45 are fitted and secured coaxial of the bores 42 as seen in Fig. 2.

To assembled the leg securing cap with a leg, a bolt 34 is first passed through the central hole 33 of an anchor disk 32. Then the disk, tipped as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, is passed downwardly into the top end of the tubular body of the leg and between the spaced ends of the anchor beads 26-26, and turned to its horizontal holding position by swinging the bolt to a vertical position. The disk then assumes the full line position of Fig. 5. Then the upper end portion of the bolt is passed upwardly through a cap 25 and the cap is slipped downwardly therealong to a position over the upper end of the leg. The nut 35 is then threaded onto the bolt and drawn down tight against the upper end wall of the extension part 2511 of the cap to secure the cap on the leg. Then, holding the leg in proper position, the upper end portion of the bolt is extended upwardly into a frame socket 40 and through the bore 42 that is coaxial thereof, and is threaded into the anchor nut 45 and is thereby drawn tight. This tightening is easily accomplished by use of a strap wrench. Thus the leg is anchored and parts secured in accordance with the showing in Fig. 2.

The tightening of the four legs 12 in place not only renders the leg structure rigid but it also adds strength and rigidity to the frame structure, since the cap portions of the four legs serve to tie the side and end members of the horizontal frame together.

The relationship of the parts 14 and 15 of the front and back members of the horizontal frame provide outwardly opening recesses extending along opposite sides of the table. The plates 15 are longitudinally grooved, as shown at 60 in Figs. 1 and 4, to better retain pencils or pens thereon.

Tables of this construction are exceptionally sturdy, yet light in weight and free of objectionable cross bracing between legs. They may be made in various sizes, shapes and heights to meet requirements.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a table, a frame member having a flat surface for seating the upper end of a table leg thereagainst, a bore formed in said member and opening therefrom to said surface, an anchor nut fixed in the said member coaxial 3 of said bore, a tubular table leg open at its upper end and formed within its upper end portion at diametrically opposite sides with inwardly projecting stops, an anchor disk of substantially the full diameter ofsaidtubular leg and adapted to be inserted therein throughits open upper 7 .endv bypassing it edge wise between: and'toa position berlow the stops and then turned and seated. against the. ,under sides of the stops, and a leg securing bolt anchored at its lower end centrally and coaxially tosaid diskand "extended upwardlytherefrom" and through said-bore, of 'the fraine member and threaded onto saidanchor nut to draw the upper end of the legagainst said fiat surface and secure the leg. I 2. A combination, as in claim 1, wherein Y a cap is ffitted over and about the ,upper endportion of the-leg, ff 'and'said'cap has a centralholethrough which the anchor bolt extends, and wherein a nut 'isthreaded' onto-the bolt a'gainstithetop of the cap to clamp 'it against the'leg and 1" provide a holding connection between leg and -boltwhereby the legmay be'er'n'ployed to'efiect the threading of the ?...'.'anchor bolt Ontosaidanchor nut.

1 I 3'. Aic'ombin'ation as in"claim 2 wherein the tubular {leg is expandable under pressure, and'wherein the anchor disk isdownwardly dished and is" adapted to" be drawn toward a flattened condition by the. tightening of the said nut on the bolt to exert expanding force against the leg to tighten itwithin the cap.

4. A construction as in claim 3 wherein the said cap has a reduced cylindrical extension projecting upwardly from its top wall coaxial of the bolt, and said frame member has a socket formed in-said leg seating surface to receive said extension in a tight fit.

" References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 361,992 Cron yAprz- 26, 1887 468,042 Holstein Feb. 2, 1892 509,135 McGlinchy NoV.-'-21, 1893 678,888 Luger July 23, 1901 705,653 "Davis July 29, 1902 821,876 Lauth May 29, 1906 843,656 Andersen Feb. 12,, 1907 1,174,278 Prier "'Mar. 7, 1916 1,576,353 "1 926 1,675,827 "1928 1,734,340 1929 1,837,346 1931 1,948,724 j 1934 2,630,857 Cohen "Mar.' 10; 1953 

